Weekly News: Cyndi Lauper honored by the United Nations

Cyndi Lauper is the first recipient of the High Note Global Prize, an award that the United Nations has created for artists using their platform to work for social justice.

The 66-year-old singer receives the prize for her commitment to young people in the LGBTQ community. Among other things, Lauper founded True Colors United, an organization that tries to prevent and combat homelessness among LGBTQ youths.

The musician received the award on Tuesday evening during her Home for the Holidays benefit concert in Los Angeles. Kesha handed over the prize and said, according to Billboard, “Cyndi has often said that we all have a personal responsibility to ensure that LGBTQ young people are treated with dignity and respect. I totally agree with that.” Cher addressed her colleague in a video message during the event. “No one deserves this award more than you,” said the singer.

In her acceptance speech, Lauper emphasized that she still sees a lot of work to be done. She shared the statistics that seven percent of young people in the US see themselves as LGBT people, but among homeless youngsters that is forty percent. “They live on the street because they are LGBT people. We can fix this, with measures and enforcement and safe places where they are not sent away.”